Strategy & operations intern

Strategy & Operations Intern (6 months) Location: Milan, Italy Type: Internship (University-sponsored, for current students or recent graduates) About Us Shop Circle is a fast-growing AI-driven software group on a mission to power the infrastructure of modern enterprises. With over $200 M in funding and 16 acquisitions in four years, we build and scale innovative products that enable businesses to thrive globally. Our team is spread across Milan, London, Sarajevo, and beyond, combining diverse perspectives to create software that matters. We are looking for a 6-month intern to join our Strategy & Operations team. This role offers direct exposure to post-acquisition integration, operational excellence, and value creation for our portfolio companies. It is a unique opportunity for an ambitious and driven individual to develop their career in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment while gaining hands-on experience in post-merger integration and business operations. Please note: The internship will be activated through your university (ente promotore, in line with Italian regulations). Candidates must be current students or recent graduates (within the past 12 months). What You'll Do: Support post-acquisition operations

Work closely with the Portfolio Director and COO on operational initiatives across portfolio companies Support transition planning, incentive schemes, operational improvements, and internal coordination

Contribute to growth initiatives

Identify and analyze portfolio synergies and growth opportunities Support market analysis, due diligence, and expansion initiatives

Support product and strategy execution Assist product management teams with business case validation and roadmap alignment

Contribute to acquisition onboarding

Support Day 1 and 100-day integration plans for new acquisitions Help ensure smooth integration of teams, systems, and operational processes

Drive value creation initiatives

Contribute to pricing strategy, go-to-market planning, product packaging, and sales execution Collaborate with internal experts and track initiative progress and outcomes

Build and improve playbooks

Document lessons learned from each acquisition Contribute to improving internal playbooks for onboarding and portfolio growth

What We're Looking For:

Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Management, Engineering, or related field Strong analytical, organisational, and project management skills Ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams Excellent communication skills in English; Italian and/or another European language is a plus

What You'll Gain:

Hands-on experience in post-acquisition integration and growth strategy Exposure to both value creation and operational processes Opportunity to work directly with founders, functional leaders, and the COO Insights into portfolio management in a fast-paced, multi-product environment Experience contributing to scalable playbooks for an acquisition-driven software group

Join us and gain hands-on experience at the intersection of strategy, operations, and product while helping build the infrastructure behind modern software businesses!